Veterans Day Program at Sparta High

Written by: Elise Kerim 

Grateful we are that they’ve given their service to the United States of America, we are further grateful that veterans have given their time to speak to Sparta students. On November 7th, Sparta High hosted its annual Veterans Day Program for veterans in the area to share their stories and for students to express compassion.

A common theme between the veterans was that they have enjoyed their experience in the military, which veteran Doyle wholeheartedly called “a great organization.” If they could, they would do it again. Donald Kimble (Army) encouraged those who were thinking about going into the military to do so, and to consider special skills they have to help them excel. Some of the veterans became visibly upset when they were sharing their stories, even stating that they were not proud of some of the things they did. This program instantly takes them back to being a 20-something year old young adults putting their lives on the line. Jack Tripp, whom served from 1966-1970 enlisted in the Air Force because he knew he would be drafted and wanted to control his own destiny. In a related manner, Elio Deluccia, an Italian immigrant, was a typical senior in high school applying to colleges. He could not attend a state college since he was not yet an American citizen - so he became one. Then after graduation, he was drafted into the Army and served for four years. Douglas Nobile, who is a Sparta High School alum (the first class to graduate all four years at SHS!) served along his peers; he even had to face seeing five of his classmates die in Vietnam.

The stories shared by the veterans are stuff we can never find in our history books. We are extremely grateful for this program to give us further insight from a soldier’s perspective, making students even more appreciative of their bravery. When asked what the most thrilling experience was during their time serving, the veterans went back and forth between the things they’ve faced - the remarks of “....jumping out of airplanes in a foreign country...getting out of a fire and still being alive, there’s no drug known to man that’ll give you a greater high than that,” were some of the most highlighted ones. The long years of service are followed by immense joy and pride - one of the younger veterans even said while he was serving in the USMC he was given the option to came home, but he refused. He felt that, “If I came home, then many other guys wouldn’t. It was the best four years of my life.” Henry Kaplan learned a lot about himself and taught himself a lot in his three years with the army. There was a moment of silence initiated by Kaplan for veteran Charlie Hearn. Hearn had earned the bronze star and previously spoke at the Veterans Day Program, but unfortunately passed away. “It just takes about two seconds to say ‘thank you for your service’ to a vet,” Kaplan began, “but it goes a long way for us to hear those words.”

So, thank you for your service. Thank you to the following for speaking to our school:

• Tony Gallopo
• Jack Tripp
• Peter Weckenman
• Doug Nobile
• Jack Schwartz
• Donald Kimble
• Rudi Bethman
• Elio Deluccia
• Joe Horfman

Thank you to our very own:

• Tony Lombardo
• William Brennan
• Dan Zill
• Jerry Carter
• Thomas Valleau
• Eric Hood
• Christopher Dugan
  
  

To all of our veterans, thank you for your service and bravery. Signing off with a quote from President George Bush: “Throughout the course of American history, courageous men and women have taken up arms to secure, defend, and maintain these core principles upon which our Nation’s freedoms depend.”